Blog

Permission to Narrate is the blog project of The Jerusalem Fund and its education program, the Palestine Center.

The name derives from a quote by the late Palestinian scholar, Edward Said, who remarked that Palestinians had been denied permission to narrate their history and speak of the day-to-day experiences of life in the margins. Their voices are so often absent from popular media.

The blog seeks to educate the public by offering Palestinian perspectives on the news and events of the day.

Handala, the cartoon character who is writing our blog’s name on the blackboard, is the signature character of the famed Palestinian political cartoonist and critic Naji Al-Ali. Al-Ali was murdered in London in 1987 by unknown assailants.

Handala, typifying the Palestinian refugee, is always depicted by Al-Ali with his back turned, as if walking away from his homeland. He is present in each of Al-Ali’s cartoons, a constant reminder of refugee experience and the hopes of the generation to come.

With this blog, we are permitted to narrate.

Please note that the views expressed in blog posts do not necessarily reflect or represent the views of The Jerusalem Fund.

On this day we commemorate the Nakba and remember all those who have suffered and continue to suffer the injustices perpetrated against the Palestinian people. We salute the many poets whose writings and sensibility communicate the Palestinians’ myriad experiences of loss and steadfastness.

The Palestinian literary figures Mahmoud Darwish and Samih al-Qasim, known primarily for their poetry, explored the genre of letter writing during 1986-88 on the pages of Al-Yawm al-Sabi`, an Arabic language cultural magazine published in Paris. The 29 letters they wrote to each other were compiled into a book, Al-Rasa’il, and published in Haifa (Arabesque Publishing House, Ltd., 1989)[i].

The wars and humanitarian disasters unfolding in Syria, Yemen, Nepal, the Mediterranean basin, and so many other parts of the world have eclipsed the dire situation in Gaza. Israel’s 51-day bombardment of the 140-square-mile strip of land in the summer of 2014 left a devastated population living in poverty, instability, and the ruins of their homes and neighborhoods. To make matters worse, the economic blockade and closure of Gaza since 2007—as well as wars in 2008-9 and 2012—have made any steps forward a near impossibility.

In order to understand the legality of settlements, it is important first to appreciate the historical significance of the June War of 1967, also known as the Six Day War. After launching a military campaign against Egypt, Israel began its occupation over the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula. Then, in response to a retaliation from Syrian and Jordanian forces, Israel conquered East Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nablus and remaining lands in the West Bank and Golan Heights – land it still occupies today.

Last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud party won Tuesday’s parliamentary elections, scoring 30 seats in the Knesset, compared to the Zionist Union led by Isaac Herzog, which gained 24 seats, and the Joint List (an Arab Israeli coalition of parties) which gained 14 seats. Many were not expecting the Likud party to win again and have described the right-wing victory as an upset. This win solidifies Netanyahu’s fourth term as prime minister; he will soon make history as the longest-serving prime minister of Israel since David Ben-Gurion.

On 17 March 2015, Israeli citizens will be taking to the polls as their votes are expected to reflect a shift in national conservatism to a more moderate governmental policy. Current Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu recently fired top officials within his government as a result of the many disagreements within the coalition, resulting in a parliamentary decision to dissolve the government and hold elections earlier than their usual date.

The upcoming elections for Israel’s House of Representatives, the Knesset, will be taking place this year on 17 March, 2015. Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud Party is currently vying for his fourth term as Prime Minister, which would prolong his involvement in Israeli politics to nearly two decades.

The horrific attack which left five Israelis dead in Jerusalem yesterday was the top international news item in the United States and in many places around the globe. On CNN, it was covered in just about every program they had on during the day. As is generally the case when Israelis are victims of Palestinian violence, Western media zooms in. That can not be said for the other way around which is far more prevalent given the ongoing Israeli military occupation of Palestine.

Sometimes good things come out of unpleasant experiences. When I participated in a “debate” on a Fox News program hosted by Sean Hannity last month, I certainly was not expecting the reaction it would get but in retrospect, I am very glad I went on and need to thank Mr. Hannity for the opportunity.